Updated 2 March 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 21 January 2020 under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• Is it well-led?
These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Bupa – Skaters Way is in Werrington, a residential area in the city of Peterborough. It provides NHS dental care for children and exempt adults, and private treatment for adults.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs with use of a portable ramp. There are some limited car parking spaces in the practice’s car park. There is also free public car parking within short distance of the premises.
The dental team includes six dentists, nine dental nurses (including three trainee dental nurses) one dental hygienist, six receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has seven treatment rooms, all on ground floor level. Services include general dentistry, implants and sedation.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Bupa – Skaters Way is the practice manager.
On the day of inspection, we collected 34 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, four dental nurses, two receptionists, the practice manager and the oversight and monitoring lead from Bupa. We looked at practice policies and procedures, patient feedback and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday 8am to 5pm, Tuesday, 8am to 6pm, Wednesday 8am to 5pm, Thursday 8am to 6pm and Friday 8am to 1pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which mostly reflected current legislation. We noted that references had not been obtained for two staff members, although these had been sought. These were obtained after the day of our visit.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines. We found that some of the dentists were not aware of current guidance in relation to antibiotic prescribing.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Ensure that staff are prescribing antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.